Stamp-moistener



C. M. PRATT.

STAMP MOISTENER.

APPLICATION FILED 05010. 1919.

v Patented June 8, 1920.

PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES lyIANVILLE PRATT, OF TOWANDA, PENNSYLVANIA.

STAMP-MGISTENER.

Application filed December 10, 12319.

To all whom it may concern:

e it known that 1, CHARLES MANVILLE PRATT, residing at Towanda, in the county of Bradford and State of Pennsylvania, a citizen of the United States, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stamp-Moisteners; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it pertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements 1n moisteners and more particularly to a moistener for postage stamps, envelops, fingers, etc.

The invention has for its object to provide a moistener adapted to be placed on a table, desk or other place where it will be within convenient reach when desired for use.

A further object is to provide a moistener which will automatically feed or discharge the desired amount or quantity of water or other moistening liquid when in use.

A further object is to provide a moistener which will not deface or otherwise mar the stamp or other article applied thereto, or the table or desk on which it is placed.

A further object is to provide a moistener which may be used equally as well for holding and applying mucilage, glue paste, and the like as water when used as a momtener.

A further object is to provide a device which is one hundred per cent. sanitary on account of its entirely obviating the necessity of touching the tongue or mouth to a stamp or other object being moistened.

A still further object is to provide a moistener which is simple, inexpensive and durable in construction, requires a minimum number of parts in its constructiom'and which is easy and effective in manipulating and always ready when it is desired to use the same.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a side view.

Fig. 2 is a plan view.

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section.

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the ball.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section of the ball.

In the drawings in which similar reference characters denote similar parts throughout the several views, 1 represents the liquid receptacle or hollow body portion of the moistener which is preferably circular in shape and made of porcelain, but which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 8, 1920.

Serial No. 343,798.

may be of any other shape and of any other material, provided with a mouth or opening 2 at its upper portion or top having interior screw threads 3.

An annular hollow cap 4 is provided for the receptacle, also preferably made of porelain but may be made of other material, which consists exteriorly of a lower reduced screw threaded portion 5 adapted to engage the interior screw-threads 3 of the receptacle, a middle portion 6 and an upwardly and inwardly curved portion 7 terminating in a rounded edge 8. The interior of the hollow cap 4 is provided with an annular rectangular slot 9, an inwardly and upwardly tapering surface or wall 10 above the slot, and a downwardly extending surface or wall with a rounded lower edge below the slot.

A hollow circular ball 11 preferably made of rubber, but which may be made of any other suitable resilient material, is provided adapted to be placed within the hollow cap 4; and 12 are a series of flexible lugs projecting laterally therefrom which engage and are seated in the annular rectangular slot 9 of the cap in order to retain the ball in place and which have rounded ends 14.

The ball 11 is inclosed by a covering or wick 15 made preferably of cheese cloth which extends downward into the liquid receptacle and which is adapted to feed or supply liquid to the outside of the ball by capillary attraction. This covering not only serves to feed the liquid to the outer surface of the ball, for the postage stamp or other article being operated upon, but also presents a smooth resilient contact surface for the fingers.

I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the specific details of construction and arrangement as herein described and illustrated, as it is manifest that variations and modifications may be made in the features of construction and arrangement in the adaptation of the device to various conditions of use without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention and improvements. I therefore reserve the right to all such variations and modifications as properly fall within the scope of my invention and the terms of the following claims.

lVhat I claim is 1. In a stamp moistener, a liquid container having an opening, a cap adapted to be seated in said opening and having an opening, a ball mounted within said cap and projecting through said opening, means on the ball for engaging said cap for retaining the ball therein and flexible means covering said ball and serving to feed liquid thereto.

2. In a stamp moistener, a liquid container, having an opening, a cap adapted to be seated in said opening and having an opening, a resilient ball mounted within the cap and projecting through the opening therein, means on the flexible ball engaging the cap and serving to retain the ball therein and flexible means covering said ball and serving to feed liquid thereto.

3'. In a stamp moistener, a liquid container having an opening, a hollow cap adapted to beseated in said opening and having an opening, a resilient ball mounted within the cap and projecting through the opening therein, flexible means on the ball to retain the same in the hollow cap and flexible means covering said ball and serving to feed liquid thereto.

4. In a stamp moistener, a liquid container, having a screwthreaded opening therein, a hollow cap having screwthreads for engaging the screwthreads of the liquid container, an opening in said cap, a resilient ball mounted within the cap and projecting through the opening therein, flexible means on the ball for retaining the same in the hollow cap and flexible means covering said ball and serving to feed liquid thereto.

5. In a stamp moistener, means for con taining liquid having an opening therein, a hollow cap adapted to be seated in said opening, an opening in said cap restricted at its upper end, a flexible ball within said cap and projecting through the opening therein, flexible means on the ball for retaining the same in the hollow cap and flexible means covering said ball and serving to feed liquid thereto.

7 6. In a stamp moistener, means for containing liquid, a hollow cap communicating with said liquid container, a flexible ball within said hollow cap, flexible means projecting laterally from said ball for retaining the same in the hollow cap and flexible means covering said ball and serving to feed liquid thereto.

7. In a stamp moistener, means for containing liquid, a hollow cap communicating with the liquid container, a flexible hollow ball within said cap, flexible means projecting laterally from said ball for retaining the same in the hollow cap and flexible means covering said ball and serving to feed liquid thereto.

8. In a stamp moistener, means for containing liquid, a hollow cap having an annular groove and communicating with the liquid container, a flexible hollow ball within said cap, flexible means projecting laterally from said ball and engaging the annular groove for retaining the ball in the hollow cap and means for covering said ball and serving to feed liquid thereto.

9. Ina stamp moistener, means for containing liquid, a hollow cap having an annular groove square in cross-section, a flexible hollow ball within said cap and projecting through the same, laterally. extending flexible means on the ball seated in and engaging the annular groove in the cap and retaining the ball therein and flexible means covering the ball and serving to feed liquid thereto.

10. In a stamp moistener, a liquid container having a screw-threaded opening, a hollow cap having screwthreads adapted to engage the screwthreads of the liquid container and connect the same therewith, a groove square in cross-section in the inner surface of said cap andthe upper portion of said cap converging, a resilient hollow ball within the cap and having flexible projections which engage the groove in the cap and retain the ball therein and flexible means covering said ball and serving to feed liquid thereto.

11. In a stamp moistener, a liquid container, a groove therein, a flexible ball having flexible projections engaging said groove for retaining the ball therein, and flexible means covering said ball and serving to feed liquid thereto.

12. In a stamp moistener, a liquid container, having a hollow cap secured therein, inwardly curved at the upper portion and terminating in an opening, a square groove in the interior of said cap, a resilient hol low ball within said cap having flexible projections which engage the square groove and retain the ball within the cap, and flexible means covering said ball and servingto feed liquid thereto.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature.

CHARLES MANVILLE PRATT. 

